American Blackjack
American blackjack — usually sold as Classic — is the version everything else is a variation of. Cards are dealt, you play against the dealer, closest to 21 without going over wins. If a page describes a rule as a difference, this is what it differs from.
The rule that defines it is the hole card: the dealer's second card is dealt face down at the start, and when the upcard is an ace or a ten the dealer checks it for blackjack before you act.
Why the Hole Card Is Worth Having
If the dealer has blackjack, the round ends immediately and you lose your original bet and nothing more. You never double or split into a hand that was already beaten.
That is the whole difference from the European game, where the second card is drawn only after you have acted and a dealer blackjack takes your doubles and splits with it. It is worth about a tenth of a percent, and it is the single most common way two otherwise identical tables differ.
What Still Varies Between Classic Tables
"Classic" is a name, not a rule set. Two tables both called Classic Blackjack can differ by more than a full percent, and the payout line is where to look first.
American and Classic Blackjack Tables
American Blackjack FAQs
In practice yes — providers use both names for the standard hole-card game. Neither name guarantees a particular deck count or payout, so read the table rules rather than the title.
The dealer's face-down second card. On an ace or ten upcard the dealer checks it for blackjack before you act, so the round can end before you commit any more money to the hand.